§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many speech therapists are employed by Lancashire Education Authority; and how many of these visit normal schools;
(2) how many speech therapists are employed by local education authorities;
(3) how many speech therapists are employed by local education authorities specifically for children with speech and 708W language difficulties who are not classified as educationally subnormal.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonSince 1974 speech therapy services have been organised under area health authorities, who are the employers. I understand that in September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, the equivalent of nearly 600 full-time speech therapists employed in the community services in England spent most of their time treating pupils in maintained, including special, schools or children not yet of school age. The current, but otherwise comparable, figure for Lancashire Area Health Authority is approximately 20 full-time speech therapists.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many language units for speech and language-impaired children are attached to ordinary schools; and where they are situated.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI regret that this information is not available.